(R) Hungarovin: "Szekszárdi" Kadarka 2009, from Szekszárdi, Tolna County, Hungary

Smell
Early: Herbaceous and unripe fruit with a touch of minerality and hints of the sort of green vegetables that go well with fish
Later: Dates and slightly overripe plums, sprinkled in spices

Taste
Dark reddish to coppery brown colouration. A smoky opening is quickly overcome by quite ripe fruit, which is predominantly warm red cherries. The fruits disappear after a while and are replaced a combination of ash and sunburnt prunes with a handful of spice. By the end this quickly descends into a sour mixture of orchard fruits and forest berries. This particular Kadarka is actually a painful experience. I can only finish the final glass with a delicious roast lamb chaser. Not a recommended wine unless as a gift to someone with a unique sense of humour and no sense of taste or smell. Surely this wine was exported from Hungary to Australia because no one in Hungary would drink it.

Tale
Unfortunately little information can be found about this producer, who appears to be based in Budapest and produces wines from various parts of Hungary. The Celts are claimed to have brought winemaking to the Szekszárd wine region over two thousand years ago, with Kadarka being the region's flagship varietal. The Hungarian Eger wine region is renown for their Bull's Blood blended red wine (Egri Bikavér) and the Szekszárd region is the only other region permitted to produce Bull's Blood (Szekszárdi Bikavér).

Price: $13
Quality: ☆
Value:   ☆

Brand: www.hungarovin.hu (page is blank, as the producers are probably in hiding)
Producer: www.szentistvankorona.hu (difficult to translate & no mention of this wine)
http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_74923

(R) Santa Julia: "Organica" Malbec 2011, from Mendoza, Argentina

Smell
Early: Soft red berries
Later: Jammy forest fruits and berries

Taste
This Malbec opens with a surprisingly soft mouthfeel of berries on a heavy background of tannin and hints of spice. The fruit develops with time, as do fine herbaceous notes. What starts as an easy drinking simple wine develops an almost jammy mix of ripe fruits and berries and a lingering tannic finish to the end.

Tale:
Coming from the Santa Julia label that José Alberto Zuccardi named after his only daughter, the Organica range are eco-friendly siblings to the label's Young Wines range. The Organica wines utilise recycled water, natural fertilisers and focus on energy conservation, with the profits contributing to local wildlife preservation and social welfare programs. Additional info on the winery's history can be found in the review of their non-organic Malbec.

Price: $9
Quality: ☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆

http://www.santajulia.com.ar/en/vinos/eco-friendly/organica/malbec
http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_911396/santa-julia-organica-malbec

(R) Berberana: "Carta de Oro" Tempranillo 2010, from Rioja, Spain

Smell
Early: Dry earthiness with faint peppery endnotes and hints of rosemary
Later: Fruit-driven with remnants of dry earth

Taste
The dark ruby glass opens briefly with fruit, which is quickly overcome by dry tobacco backed by a peppery finish. With time the mouthfeel becomes more fruit-driven until only traces of tobacco remain. As a whole package, this Tempranillo is very easy drinking.

Tale
Berberana are one of the oldest names in the Spanish region of Rioja, having been founded in 1877. Aside from being amongst the oldest wineries in the country, Berberana are also the highest selling Spanish winery, with ageing facilities for over 50,000 barrels. The brand's modern success is largely attributable to the work of local entrepreneur Don Melquiades Entrena, who took control of the Berberana brand in 1975 and has worked to transform the heritage-rich brand into a Spanish icon.

Price: $9
Quality: ☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆

http://www.berberana.com (Spanish)
http://www.unitedwineries.com/brands/berberana/the-carta-de-oro-collection/berberana-carta-de-oro-tempranillo-.aspx
http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_903988